Captain and Countess

by Alice Gaines

  “Well done. Add a nice bonus for yourself,” Jason said.

  Morse bowed smartly and left the room. As soon as he’d closed the door behind him, Lily did a fair imitation of how their mother had looked when he’d gotten into something he oughtn’t to. She crossed her arms over her chest and raised an eyebrow. “Is all this expense really necessary?”

  “Everything to make you happy is necessary, pet.”

  “But I am happy.”

  “You’ll be even happier when you’re a duchess,” he said.

  “Marry Will, you mean?”

  “Why not? You two have been as thick as thieves since you were children,” he answered.

  She toyed with the teacup that still sat in front of her, even though it had been empty of tea for over an hour. “What if he doesn’t love me?”

  “He used to be your constant companion. How could he not?”

  “I don’t think he loves me that way,” she said. “He’s never tried to kiss me.”

  “Of course he hasn’t. He knows I’d beat his face to a bloody pulp.”

  Rather than object to his violent intent toward her friend and future husband, Lily covered her mouth and giggled. “Men. I’ll never understand you.”

  “I don’t know why not. We’re simple creatures compared to women.”

  “You’ve kissed a few ladies, haven’t you?” she asked.

  “A gentleman doesn’t carry tales.”

  “No one’s beaten your face to a pulp,” she said. “At least, not that I’m aware of.”

  “We weren’t talking about me.”

  “That’s the point.”

  Not a child any longer, his sister had become too insightful by half. Rather than sit and suffer her scrutiny, he rose, went to the sideboard and poured himself some brandy. “It’s different for men than for women.”

  “So tell me.” She crossed her arms over her chest again. “If men are supposed to experiment, on whom are they supposed to do it?”

  “You have a lot to learn, and I’m here to see that you never learn it.”

  “There, now you see how ridiculous you are?” She got up and approached him, her hand extended. “Now, give me a taste of that.”

  He pulled his own hand back. “I will not.”

  “If it’s so dreadful, why do you drink it?”

  “It isn’t dreadful. It’s . . . well . . . too strong for you.”

  She didn’t lower her hand but held it up, now nearly under his nose. “Shouldn’t I be the judge of that?”

  He stared at her for a moment. For a generally sweet girl, she had a stubborn streak. Most likely, she got that from their mother, too. Finally, he relented and handed her his glass. “If you insist.”

  She took the drink and swallowed much more than he would have recommended for her first taste. Sure enough, the brandy choked her. Her hand wobbled as she gave back the tumbler, and she proceeded to cough, her eyes watering.

  “Dear heaven,” she managed after a bit.

  “You might listen to me next time,” he said.

  “Now I really don’t understand. Why would a man want to drink such stuff?”

  “There’s only one thing you need to know about men. Don’t let any of them touch you until you have a proper proposal of marriage.”

  “Advice you’ve followed yourself, no doubt.”

  Despite her skepticism, he had taken care not to deal dishonorably with young girls. He’d had dalliances with experienced women but had never allowed himself to compromise an innocent. Honestly, none had ever tempted him. The idea of having a virgin held no appeal. There seemed little chance of making the act good for her on the first time and possibly for several times after that. Taking his own pleasure at another’s expense could hardly seem satisfying. He’d much prefer the abandon of a partner who’d respond with the same lust he brought to the encounter. One who could become excited enough to forget the cramped quarters of a carriage or the fact that they’d arrived at her home and a footman would soon open the door.

  A fresh knife of shame cut through his memory. That apology he’d sent to Lady Rushford. That cruel string of words he’d forced from his pen. The Almighty would surely punish him for that if it weren’t for the fact that he used it against himself every waking moment.

  “There it is again,” Lily said. “That look. What have you done?”

  “Something unpleasant. It was required, I’m sorry to say.”

  “Required for what?”

  “I’ve decided to put myself on the marriage market.” He chucked her under the chin. “You and I will have life partners by the end of the season.”

  “You?” Her eyes opened wide. “You’ve fallen in love and haven’t told me?”

  “I didn’t say anything about love.”

  “You can’t marry a woman just to have done with it,” Lily said. “You must have some affection for her before the wedding.”

  “Romantic rubbish. I’ll marry with my head, not my heart.”

  “No.” Good Lord, she looked as if she’d stamp her foot in disapproval. “I won’t stand for it. I want you to be happy.”

  “I will be happy. Just not immediately. I’ll have to put some time and energy into it.”

  She stared at him as if she’d never heard anything so idiotic. “You want me to marry for love, don’t you?”

  “I want you to marry Will. He’s perfect.”

  She threw her hands in the air in frustration. “What if he doesn’t love me?”

  “We’ve discussed this,” he answered. “He does. The issue’s settled.”

  “If so, he’ll ask me to marry him whether I live in a beautiful house in the country or not.”

  “It’s not that simple. He’s a duke now. He has responsibilities.” He also had a harpy of a mother with social ambitions. The wealthy girl from the next shire would have satisfied her once. Now, she’d likely aim higher. Jason would make a place for his family on that higher plane, either through his marriage or his engagement.

  “So, you see, we’re going to make ourselves grand at Hollyfield,” he said finally. “You’ll have your duke, and I’ll have my choice of all the available young ladies.”

  Chapter Four

  Equipping a large estate required approximately the same amount of time and money it must have taken to build ancient Rome. Butchers, wine sellers, and other tradesmen had to be sought, furnishings bought and installed, and an entire staff hired. Even now, on the day when Lily and her friends would start to arrive, some rooms stood empty and he hadn’t found enough horses for a decent riding party. Still, as Jason looked about the place, pride swelled in his chest. He’d outdone Hadleigh¸ even though his family home was a fine, old one. He’d outdone most places the prince regent had visited. In fact, once he’d attracted the young duke and made it clear the fellow would be marrying into his family, he might attract Prinny himself.

  Jason was in deep discussion with his new butler about the lack of suitable local girls to act as ladies’ maids when the first carriage pulled up the circular drive. His family’s crest told him it held Thomas, Viscount Hadleigh, and his wife, Grace.

  Dear Lord, not Thomas. How the devil had he found out about Jason’s plans? And why had he left Hadleigh and his experiments? Nothing budged the viscount from the family home, not Parliament, not the London season, not even a trip just for a change of scenery. Jason’s whole plan depended on living down his brother’s eccentricities. He certainly didn’t need them displayed in a live performance for any young woman he chose to court and for her family. And especially not for the duke and his mother.

  Jason descended the front stairs two at a time and arrived before the footman had opened the door and lowered the steps for the couple to climb out. Grace, Lady Hadleigh, came first. As lovely as ever, she wore a simple dress that showed a decided swell to her belly.

  Jason kissed her hand and then her cheek. “Hello, sweet. Thomas should have told me you were coming. He certainly should have told me you were
. . .”

  She rested a hand over her stomach. “He didn’t?”

  “Come out here, you old bastard,” Jason said. “Explain yourself.”

  Thomas appeared finally, a pile of books under one arm. “Bastard me, will you, you blackguard?”

  They embraced around the books. A habit they’d gotten into when a handshake hadn’t seemed enough. It still wasn’t. After a bit, Thomas pushed away and held Jason at arm’s length. “Let me look at you, baby brother. India seems to have agreed with you.”

  “I did a great deal more than following orders and making sure my boots were polished, I assure you.” And with any luck, no one would learn the details.

  “You’ve filled out,” Thomas said.

  “You’re as scrawny as ever.” In fact, Thomas looked just has he always had, ever since he was a scrap of a lad, outgrowing his clothing before new could be made. His curly hair that defied any kind of discipline still went this way and that. His green eyes held a distracted air. Some might think that indicated a lack of wit. Rather, his brother suffered from a mind too keen for the rest of humanity except, perhaps, for his wife. Grace, at least, kept one foot upon the ground at all times.

  “Why are you here? Why did you leave Hadleigh?” Jason demanded. “You should have told me you were coming.”

  “I did, in a letter.” Thomas glanced at his wife. “Didn’t I, my dear?”

  “I’m sure I have no idea what you’ve written to whom,” she answered.

  “I distinctly remember writing it down one evening.” Juggling the pile of books, Thomas opened the top one and pulled out an envelope. “Here it is.”

  “It doesn’t get to me if you don’t post it.”

  “Details. I must have been thinking of something else.”

  “Your experiment, my dear,” Grace said.

  “Ah, yes. You see, I have a theory about the properties of weather as it applies to the electric charge,” Thomas began.

  “I’m sure you do.” Thomas had a theory about everything. Most of his theories sounded crazy. Some turned out to be dangerous. If he was going to stay here, and Jason could hardly send him away, he’d have to keep quiet about all that. “But first, hadn’t we best get your wife off her feet?”

  “Hm? Oh, yes. I have theories about pregnancy, too. You see—”

  Jason turned to Grace. “The staff will take your luggage inside. If you’ll follow Imrey, he’ll show you to some rooms.”

  She gave him a weary smile. “Thank you.”

  The butler, who’d been standing silently through the arrival, bowed. “This way, my lady.”

  “Are you coming, Hadleigh?”

  “You go along. I want to talk to Jason for a minute.”

  Grace disappeared inside the house, and Thomas remained where he was, following her with his gaze. Even after the door closed, Thomas continued staring, as if he could see inside to something that fascinated him.

  “Thomas,” Jason prompted.

  “What?” Thomas said, now looking at Jason as though surprised to find him there.

  “You said you wanted to talk to me.”

  “Yes, yes, of course.” Thomas went right back to gazing at where his wife had disappeared into the house. “Women are remarkable creatures, aren’t they? Now, take pregnancy, for example.”

  “I‘d really rather not, thank you.”

  “You see, women have complete control over the child before it’s born, and they see nothing wrong about that at all. They take it as their due.”

  “I say, do we really have to discuss this?” Jason said.

  “But the seed.” Thomas curled his fingers of his free hand until the tips met and then focused all his attention at the point of their meeting. “The man gives the seed and then, poof. The end of his contribution.”

  “Don’t take it personally, old man.” Jason clapped his hand on his brother’s shoulder. “And please, keep your thoughts to yourself, hm?”

  “I have a plan. I’m going to involve myself,” Thomas went on as if Jason hadn’t spoken. “A sort of experiment, you see, to determine if someone outside the womb can exercise some good effect on the child inside.”

  “Please, no hocus-pocus while you’re here.”

  “I don’t engage in hocus-pocus. I’m a scientist.” Thomas straightened. “But that’s not important. I need to talk to you.”

  “So you said. About what?”

  “What is all this, then?”

  “This?” Jason repeated, staring into his brother’s face.

  “This.” Thomas gestured around them. “Why do you need this house? We have a perfectly good one at Hadleigh.”

  “I need just the right setting for a number of things.”

  “What things?”

  Jason took a breath. “Marriage things, if you must know.”

  “You?” Thomas said. “Marriage?”

  “Why sound so surprised? Everyone does it eventually.”

  “You’ve never mentioned anything about marriage.”

  “I wasn’t ready,” Jason said. “I am now.”

  Thomas stood, apparently lost in thought about the whole affair. Of course, Thomas hadn’t put any effort into wife-hunting or wooing. One day, he’d set eyes on Grace, and for some incomprehensible reason, she’d taken to him. The whole thing had been all over except for the vows, and no one had ever questioned whether they should be together. If only things could come so easily for Jason.

  “Any prospects?” Thomas asked. “Any lovely eyes captured your heart? Any female form excited your other parts?”

  “Thomas, I hope you’ll behave yourself while you’re here.”

  “Behave myself?” Thomas recoiled. “I always behave myself.”

  “I meant . . . well . . . there are going to be people here who consider themselves polite society. They don’t want to hear about my other parts. Nor yours. Nor your seed going poof inside your wife.”

  “I was only speaking scientifically.”

  “Well, don’t,” Jason said. “Please.”

  “If I don’t fit into your house party, I don’t know why you invited me.”

  “I didn’t. You invited yourself. In that letter you never posted.”

  “You must have expected me when you told me about this house party you were having,” Thomas said.

  “I didn’t do that, either.” What a colossal mess. As much as he loved his brother, he couldn’t have him underfoot for the next few weeks. The duke’s mother had never tolerated any kind of outrageous behavior even before she’d become so elevated in rank. And while you couldn’t call experiments in electricity and the like truly scandalous, sparks flying at odd hours of the night did little to inspire confidence in the sanity of the one causing the disturbance. Somehow, he’d need to keep his brother out of sight of the others as much as possible. Only, how could he do that with a house full of people?

  “Well, I found out about it anyway, and a good thing, too,” Thomas said. “I can’t have you casting about for a wife and our sister having her first season without your older, married brother’s hand to guide you along.”

  “You let Lily come to town without you.”

  “Only from necessity. I can’t abide that city.” Thomas’s expression brightened. “I say, you’ve done something brilliant here.”

  “I have?”

  “Of course. You’ve taken the whole marriage market enterprise and moved it out of London into more healthy climes.” Thomas took a deep breath and let it out with a long exhalation. “Fresh air. Long walks. Scenery to be contemplated.”

  “Wouldn’t you rather keep to your rooms and catch up on your reading?” Jason pointed at the books under Thomas’s arm. “If those aren’t sufficient, I’m sure I can find more.”

  One of the footmen who’d been unloading Thomas and Grace’s things walked by with a pile of what looked like hat boxes. A violin case sat on top, wobbling badly as the man reached the first step.

  “See here.” Thomas grabbed the case and
now stood with one arm full of books and the other cradling his violin. “Take care with that.”

  Not the violin. On top of everything else, the Almighty really ought to spare Jason and his guests that. “You aren’t planning on playing that while you’re here, I hope.”

  “I certainly will. It helps me to think.”

  “It doesn’t help anyone else to think,” Jason said. “Or to sleep, for that matter.”

  “I must practice every day,” Thomas said. “Surely, you understand that.”

  “Thomas, you know I think the world of you and Grace.”

  “As we do of you.”

  Jason put his hand on his brother’s arm and gave it a squeeze. “Wouldn’t you be more comfortable at Hadleigh? Lily and I can manage here by ourselves. I swear, we can.”

  “Quite the man you are now after that business in India, aren’t you?”

  He was. Rich, grown, and not in need of help from an older brother. How could he make this particular older brother realize that and go away?

  “I can find a wife on my own, and Lily will enchant the entire party,” Jason said. If Thomas didn’t drive them all off with his scientific theories or his horrid playing on the violin.

  “Good show,” Thomas said. “But Grace and I are both here to help. We’ll survive.”

  “I’m sure you will, but—”

  “Well, seems as if all the luggage has been taken inside. What say you show me where I’ll be sleeping?”

  Nothing to it. Thomas had arrived, and here he would stay until he decided to take himself off back to Hadleigh. Jason would have to do what he could to keep the damage to a minimum. He sighed. “Go find Imrey. He’ll know where he put your wife.”

  “Stout fellow.” Burdened down by books in one arm and a violin in the other hand, Thomas climbed the stairs and entered the house.

  Jason hardly had time to absorb the unexpected arrival of Viscount Hadleigh when another carriage rumbled up the drive. Another crest of arms that spelled even more trouble. Deauville. Sarah Ellsford’s family conveyance. As soon as it came to a stop, a footman climbed down to help the passengers out. The first person to climb out was Lily, who ran to Jason and slipped into his arms for an embrace. As he stared over her head, Harriett Ellsford also appeared from inside. One of the few young ladies he absolutely would not be courting, but innocent enough overall. Unfortunately, her mother followed. Sarah gave him a little smile of triumph. He most certainly hadn’t invited her, either.